Wildfire Evacuations, North West Territories

One Kelowna resident told the BBC the fires came over the mountainside like an 'ominous cloud of destruction'   Getty Images

"It is safe for residents who have a vehicle and are able to drive to start evacuating now."

"If there are smoky conditions, residents evacuating by highway will be escorted from Yellowknife through the active fire zone."

North West Territories government

 

"It's going to be tough to get this done, there's no doubt, but folks are co-operating, folks are staying calm."

"People are doing the right thing."

N.W.T. fire information officer Mike Westwick

 

"I'm really anxious, and I'm scared. I'm emotional."

"God, just so many emotions, I don't even know where to begin. I'm in shock."

"I don't know what I'm coming home to or if I'm coming home. There's just so much unknowns here."

Angela Canning, Yellowknife N.W.T. resident 

"We're all in this together, but individually we choose how to react."

"We will get through this. Now, more than ever, is the time to ask for help if you need it, and to work together."

"We're all tired of the word unprecedented, yet there is no other way to describe this situation in the Northwest Territories. The country is watching, and our neighbours are keeping us in their thoughts and prayers."

N.W.T. Premier Caroline Cochrane

Yellowknife residents have been ordered to leave the Northwest Territories capital by noon Friday due to wildfires. Twenty-two flights are scheduled to evacuate about 1,800 Yellowknifers today, with others leaving by vehicle on Highway 3. Sgt. Avery Parle updates a crowd waiting to register for an evacuation flight on Thursday. (Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters)

 

Yellowknife, the capital of North West Territories with its population of 20,000, along with nearby communities of Ndilo and Dettah has been given an evacuation order from the territorial government which views residents along Ingraham Trail, in Dettah, Kam Lake, Grace Lake and the Engle Business District to be at highest risk of approaching wildfires, and should make emergency arrangements to leave as soon as possible; Wednesday was recommended.

Residents of Yellowknife and neighbouring communities were given a little more time, ordered to leave Friday noon, and advised that reception centres for Yellowknife evacuees were set at noon Thursday to open in three communities in Alberta. Travel by road was deemed safe. Air evacuations were to be utilized for those people at higher risk; those who are immunocomprised, those who have no other options by which to leave.

Evacuees from Yellowknife unable to find their own accommodation would be provided with support in three communities in the neighbouring province of Alberta, while the N.W.T. government searches out additional potential emergency hosts for the evacuees. The closest of the reception centres is more than a thousand kilometres distant by road from the N.W.T. capital.

A helicopter carrying a water bucket passes a sign that reads Forest Fire Smoke as wildfires approach Yellowknife. To protect the city, municipal and contractors have been using heavy equipment to build fire breaks 100-metres wide. They have also deployed 20 kilometres of pipe and pumps that can provide between 500 and 1,000 gallons of water a minute from local water sources. (Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters)

 

A main gas station along the highway south of Yellowknife arranged for additional fuel, sufficient to supply thousands of wildfire evacuees. Since the evacuation order was issued, lines at the pumps have grown increasingly. The city of Calgary stated it can provide accommodation for 5,000 evacuees; one reception centre has been prepared at the Calgary airport, prepared to receive five evacuation flights.

In Yellowknife transit, trucked water and sewer services along with residential garbage collection were suspended, while the intensive care unit at Yellowknife's hospital was set to close, reflecting the health authority's reduction in its services. Some services at the Stanton Territorial Hospital, including long-term care, are expected to be closed in the next 24 hours.

While thousands of Yellowknife residents are in road convoys, other stood with packed bags at the airport in snaking lines waiting for the opportunity to leave as wildfires approached. Wildfire fighting crews are fully engaged in battling some of the over 200 blazes that forced thousands to  retreat to evacuation centres throughout Alberta. 

Up to yesterday, the evacuation  has been orderly and safe, the fire about 16 kilometres from the northern outskirts of Yellowknife. The evacuation order was made at that point, to ensure an orderly exit while the fire was still at a distance.

Residents of Yellowknife wait to register for evacuation on Thursday as wildfires threaten the Northwest Territories capital. (Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters)